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Rabat – Moroccan athletes have dominated the 2021 African SAMBO Championships in Cairo – bringing home the title and the majority of gold medals from the three-day martial arts competition.
The International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) organized the championship between July 29 and 31 in Cairo, Egypt. The first two days of the tournament took place in the event’s traditional indoor setting, while on the third and final day FIAS held the African Beach SAMBO Championships.
On the first day of the competition, Moroccan athletes took home six of the nine gold medals. Morocco’s Wissal Ziane took home a gold medal in the Women’s 59 kilogram grouping, while Yasser Bouhessoune, El Houcine Chakiri, and Brahim Mouhyi took home golds in the Men’s 58 kilogram, 88 kilogram, and over-98 kilogram competitions respectively.
Read also: Poor Olympic Performances from Moroccan Athletes Invoke Criticism
In the Combat SAMBO events of the same day, where competitors enjoy less restrictions on the type of moves they are allowed to use, Bouchaib Leghfiri and Badreddine Diani won gold for Morocco in the 74 kilogram and 79 kilograms groupings in the sport. On the second day, Moroccan athletes won three golds out of the eight sets of medals available.
Sanaa Mandar took home gold in the Women’s 65 kilogram grouping, while Mohamed Taibi received a gold medal in the Men’s 64 kilogram grouping. Amine Jaafar won a gold for Morocco in the 58 kilogram Combat SAMBO grouping of the day.
The Moroccan team finished first in the African SAMBO Championships 2021, followed by Cameroon in second place, and Egypt in third place.
On the final day, competing for the African Beach Sambo Championships 2021 top spot, the Moroccan team won four gold medals in seven competitions, bringing Morocco’s gold total in Cairo to 16 medals – out of the 24 medals available.
Wissal Ziane also received gold in the beach segment in the 59 kilogram grouping, while Khaoula Ziane received a gold in the over-72 kilogram grouping.
Yasser Bouhessoune and Mohamed Taibi brought home gold in the 51 kilogram and 71 kilogram categories of the beachside championship.
SAMBO history in Africa began in 1987 with Dalil Skalli, now President of African SAMBO Confederation, launching the continent’s first chapter, the national committee of Morocco on SAMBO.
